Luke says thanks to Rovers as heads back to parent club Barnsley
LUKE Thomas and Bristol Rovers have invested a lot in each other, and, as the winger’s loan spell at the Memorial Stadium comes to an end, there is a sense of unfinished business in BS7.
It has been a turbulent yet mutually-beneficial spell for both parties, in the end. At one point, his relationship with Joey Barton appeared beyond repair, but that tough love and brutal honesty proved to be just what Thomas required to get his career and life back on track.
By the end of the campaign, Thomas was an impactful player, first with several eye-catching cameos off the bench before starting the final game of the season against Scunthorpe United. For now, that was Thomas’ final game in the blue and white quarters as he heads back to parent club Barnsley. He finished the season goalless in 28 league appearances, but he did lay on five assists.
The 23-year-old tweeted “Thank you” to the club’s official account on Sunday 24 hours after the squad returned from an end-of-season trip to Dubai, accompanied by a picture of his back to the camera, but this was not intended as a final farewell from the player, whose future is undecided.
Barton has made clear he would like Thomas to return to the Mem next season, with the version of the player he was managing in the final months of the campaign a talent more than capable of performing in the third tier. Thomas has relished his time at the club, too, enjoying being based closer to his Gloucestershire roots after a challenging period in his personal life that preceded his time with the Gas, in addition to the joys of a promotion season with a close-knit squad.
But no decisions have been made on what happens next. Thomas is due to report for preseason training with Barnsley in July, with the Tykes yet to appoint a manager after the sacking of Poya Asbaghi. Whoever replaces the Iranian at Oakwell will want to thoroughly assess their resources upon arrival.
There is a school of thought that Thomas will be a more effective player in League One. His technical ability translates well to the vastly different patterns of play seen in the third tier, compared to the more physical and random nature of League Two.
Barnsley, of course, will be playing in League One next season after finishing bottom of the Championship, which could increase Thomas’ playing chances at his parent club, but the feeling in South Yorkshire is that they will listen to offers with just 12 months remaining on his contract. Should Barnsley choose to sanction his exit, Rovers are well placed to compete for his signature.
The situation is similar for fellow loan star Connor Taylor, who will return to his parent club - Stoke City - to be assessed before plans for next season are made.